Beyond Research Methods: Unpacking Ideological Criticism Through Ontology, Epistemology, and Ideographs

Abstract

This chapter has four main sections that come together to demonstrate how ideological criticism can be used as a dynamic tool for social researchers rather than purely a research method. A roadmap and bridge are offered on how ontological, epistemological, and theoretical commitments can come together to complement the research method (i.e., Foss’s ideological criticism). The second section introduces the concept of ‘<ideographs>’ and underscores their roles in dissecting seemingly benevolent words. A particular emphasis will be on how the use of <chevrons> as <ideographs> can complement and offer an extra layer of rigour to the research technique in identifying the presented elements in Foss’s method (Rhetorical criticism: Exploration and practice. Waveland Press, 2009). The third section undertakes specific and more detailed consideration of Foss’s (Rhetorical criticism: Exploration and practice. Waveland Press, 2009) four-step approach to ‘ideology criticism’ complemented by <Ideographs>. The fourth section provides a real-world example of how ‘Ideological Criticism’ was applied to our research, making data collection and analysis clear and explicit. The chapter concludes with a consideration of the boundaries and limitations of the research.